Outdoor Cooking

What is a typical day of backpacking like?

For my outdoor education class, I need to know basic facts about a day of backpacking. How far did you go in one day? How long did you sleep? When did you cook? That sort of thing. Thanks!

As others have mentioned how far you go in a day depends on the group, the terrain and the amount of gear you are carrying. In my experience, unless it is a very good trail over even ground, anything over 8 miles is a pretty good distance in day and anything over 15 is really pushing it. Heck, 20 miles in one day is a pretty hard day hike without a pack (basically a fast walking pace non-stop for 10 straight hours).

Typically, I aim for 6 to 12 miles a day depending on the area. Presumably you are hiking through a pretty and enjoyable place and will want to stop along the way to take pictures and enjoy it rather than troop through at full speed without stopping. Outdoor exercise experts also recommend that you stop at least once every 1-2 hours and elevate your feet for 10-15 minutes to improve circulation and clear out lactic acids that build up in the legs and feet.

A typical day goes as follows:
Get up around sunrise. Breakfast, bathroom activities and repacking at a relaxed pace usually takes about an hour and a half.

Hit the trail for about 3-4 hours, with maybe one 15 minute break along the way. Find a nice spot for lunch and just hang out and relax a bit for an hour or more. Hit the trail again for 3-4 hours, with at least one 15 minute break.

I try to reach camp a good two hours before sunset to allow plenty of time to check out the area and setup (plus it is nice to be done with everything and relax during sunset). Finding the nearest water source and filtering enough water (hand-pump filter) to last to the next camp is a high priority.

If fires are allowed at the camp, than gathering firewood is a top priority while there is day light, but I usually won’t start the fire until I need it for light or cooking. I like to do my cooking right after enjoying the sunset (or the days are long, cook right before sunset and find a good sunset spot to eat at). In the last few years, I have become a fan of the dehydrated meals (Mountain House, etc) which are light, calorie packed and not bad tasting. I don’t need to bring pots, separated ingredients, etc and can eat right out of the package. The new JetBoils are great for quickly boiling water with minimum weight and fuel.

I am normally a night owl, but after a day or two of backpacking I usually get into a natural rytheme with the daylight and find myself happily going to bed and waking up earlier than I would at home. Hitting the tent by 9PM and sleeping a good 8-9 hours is not uncommon.

The above is pretty typical, but no two days are exactly the same. Some days you don’t to camp until after dark and others you may only go an easy 4 or 5 miles between camps. For extended trips (over 4-5 days) I often like to find a nice spot to hold over 2 nights (a dead day) to really relax and explore a bit without having to constantly get up and go each morning.

Where you are going makes a big difference too. I do most of my backpacking in the southwest where water sources are few and far between and so you often have to carry more water (heavy!) on you than at other places. On the other hand, we have much fewer mosquitos, fleas, and ticks so I usually never have to bother with bug spray.

Griddle-Q Outdoor Cooking Fun

Bayou Classic 3066A 30-Quart Outdoor Turkey Fryer Kit $57.28 Specifically designed for frying whole turkeys, this 30-quart outdoor stockpot circulates oil for even cooking temperatures and tender, juicy meats. The kit includes a 12-inch stainless-steel, deep-fry thermometer for consistent temperatures. A perforated poultry rack with a grab hook makes it easy to safely insert and remove turkey. A gas burner with cast-iron reversible grate provides exception…

Mr. Bar-B-Q Backyard Basics Eco-Cover PVC Free Ex-Large Grill Cover $49.99 Mr. Bar – B – Q Eco Extra – Large Grill Cover. Big 80 x 25 x 42″ size to cover your mammoth cooker! If your grill doubles as a small village, this XL Grill Cover is perfect for your situation! Made with high-grade polyester that sheds water with a PVC-free coating to keep corrosion-causing moisture OUT! It’s safe to place on your grill while it’s still warm too… no chance you’ll forget to re-cov…

Style Asia HW4110 Chefs Basics Select 7-Piece BBQ Set with Apron $10.88 A thoughtful gift for any outdoor cooking enthusiast, this seven-piece barbeque set provides an array of essential grilling tools and keeps them all within easy reach. The included heavy-gauge nylon apron offers an adjustable locking fastener and deep pockets to securely hold the tools, which include a slotted turner with a built-in bottle opener, a fork, tongs, an oven mitt to keep hands safe fro…

Boss 4176M Medium Pile Lined Split Leather Gloves $6.34 Boss Gloves 4176-M Medium Pile Lined Split Leather Gloves, BrownSplit cowhide leather driver with polyester lining. Gunn-cut design with keystone thumb, shirred elastic back and open cuff.Boss Gloves 4176-M Medium Pile Lined Split Leather Gloves, Brown Features:; Pile Lined for Extra Warmth and Comfort; Good Abrasion Resistance; Keystone Thumb for Comfort and Mobility; Durable Split Leather; Open …

Boss 4176L Large Pile Lined Split Leather Gloves $4.00 Boss Gloves 4176-L Large Pile Lined Split Leather Gloves, BrownSplit cowhide leather driver with polyester lining. Gunn-cut design with keystone thumb, shirred elastic back and open cuff.Boss Gloves 4176-L Large Pile Lined Split Leather Gloves, Brown Features:; Pile Lined for Extra Warmth and Comfort; Good Abrasion Resistance; Keystone Thumb for Comfort and Mobility; Durable Split Leather; Open Cu…

Lined Leather Deerskin Work Gloves $113.94 These Lined Deerskin Leather gloves are ideal for use Where Long Wearing and Abrasion Resistance Are Required. Do Not Wash these Gloves. Gloves are designed to protect your hands. Lining is a 3M Thinsulate. You get 6 pair!…

miBook Outdoor Living Projects: Decks, Patios, and More $19.99 miBook lets you fix-up your house like never before! Unlike a traditional guide, miBook explodes with video clips, images, and sound. Move through projects step-by-step, seeing exactly how they should look every step of the way. Pick a project and work like a pro! Build basic decks, design a patio, build a swingset, plant tranquil gardens, install a fountain, build outdoor fireplaces, prevent pest…

How to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques $5.36 The American Tailgater Co. cannot recommend this book highly enough. From the beginner to the expert chef — How to Grill covers it all. It will help you master the techniques that will improve your barbecue skills and results! Includes easy to follow instructions and more than 1,000 full-color, step-by-step photographs. It also includes 100 recipes that illustrate each technique. You can?t go wro…

The Bread Bible $20.80 Rose Levy Beranbaum’s The Cake Bible introduced readers to a newly illuminating baking-book approach–a precisely detailed yet accessible recipe format emphasizing baking science. The Bread Bible follows the same plan, offering 150 recipes, arranged by type, for a great variety of baked goods–from muffins, popovers, and English muffins to sandwich loaves, focaccia, rolls, hearth breads, rye bread…

Primitive Wilderness Living & Survival Skills: Naked into the Wilderness $19.66 This book is an in depth “how-to” of outdoor primitive skills….

Tags: diy, howto, reference, stove, travel

This entry was posted on Monday, January 8th, 2007 at 9:56 pm and is filed under Outdoor Cooking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.